Budget outline slashes Gov. Scott's priorities

Florida House and Senate leaders have agreed to a budget outline that severely curtailed both of Gov. Rick Scott's priorities for the coming year. They reduced Scott's tax cut plan from $1 billion to $400 million and wiped out a $250 million business-incentives package. More from the Times/Herald, Florida Politics, and the Gainesville Sun.

See also:
» Florida lawmakers moving quickly to wrap up budget talks
» Florida jobs chief: No incentives means 50,000 jobs lost
» Business groups react to Legislature's proposal to not fund Gov. Scott's priority
» Florida legislators reach deal for school money
» Florida budget talks begin with $5.5 million in the mix for Collier County projects

Your turn:
» Did the Legislature make the right decision by slashing Gov. Scott's tax cuts and not allocating money to lure jobs to the state? (Quick poll)

Florida Trend Exclusive
Community portrait of Metro Orlando

The region -- encompassing the 2.3 million residents of Orange County and neighboring Lake, Seminole and Osceola counties -- is under construction. At this in-depth community portrait, you'll find facts, figures and other details about metro Orlando. [Source: Florida Trend]

Floridians' gloomy future outlook keeps consumer sentiment flat

Despite recent good news in the national economy, Floridians’ expectations about personal finances in the coming year were pessimistic, especially among women and people 60 and older, according to the latest University of Florida consumer survey. [Source: UF News]

Florida Bar survey finds bias against young women lawyers

A survey of young women lawyers by the Florida Bar has found that almost half have experienced gender bias at law firms or in the courtroom. The Bar's Young Lawyers Division survey drew responses from 464 women lawyers under age 36 or in their first five years of practice. More about the survey, here. Also see the AP.

Is it cheaper to be a stay-at-home parent?

Many in this new generation of millennial moms and dads boast college degrees, promising careers and a desire to “do it all.” But with childcare costs consistently on the rise – the most recent Census Bureau report shows costs have doubled since the '80s – many parents are left with no choice but to put their jobs on hold. [Source: Florida Today]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› As developers go on shopping spree, Miami retail has never been hotter [Miami Herald]
There’s a gold rush on for retail in South Florida. Developers and mall operators want to renovate and expand shopping centers across the region. New retail is popping up, too, especially open-air “high-street” shops with surprisingly gourmet dining.

› NFL Players Association has 'externs' making inroads at Jacksonville's Fanatics Inc. [Florida Times-Union]
As former Jacksonville Jaguars fullback Greg Jones leaned over a T-shirt printing machine at the Fanatics Inc. production facility on the Westside, he knew he was learning a lot more about business than he ever did on the playing field as a 10-year veteran in the NFL.

› Wellington company develops watch that can also charge your phone [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Your phone is down to a 5 percent charge and you're nowhere near an outlet. How are you going to charge it? Sean Ebersold would plug it into his wristwatch.

› Daytona to go big for 75th Bike Week [Orlando Sentinel]
This year marks the 75th Bike Week and to celebrate, festival organizers have lined up big-name musicians and a host of events to entertain the expected 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts for 10 days.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› South Florida condo market cooling off [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Condominium sales sputtered in South Florida in January, and Craig Studnicky insists that was no abberation. "The market has slowed down a little bit," said Studnicky, principal of ISG World, an Aventura firm selling units across the region. "Nobody wants to admit that, but it has."

› Seminole County considers new incentives for sports, tourism [Orlando Sentinel]
Seminole County is considering a new incentive program in an effort to attract more sports and special events. The new program is described on an agenda for an upcoming Board of County Commissioners meeting.

› Florida's primary role is unclear [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Florida’s significance in the process remains unclear even as absentee ballots are being cast and Election Day is just around the corner.

› USF sees a day when it will join the ranks of Florida's 'pre-eminent' universities [Tampa Bay Times]
Since 2013, both Florida and Florida State have met the Legislature's benchmarks for "pre-eminent status," receiving an extra $5 million to $15 million each year in state funds to attract the best faculty and students and grow the universities' reach across the globe.
» See also: $2.9 million gift will establish entrepreneurship program at USF